Dear media: Gutkha has been banned in UP since 2013, how can Adityanath ban it again in 2017?

The problem with a large section of the Indian media is that, besides being stenographers of the first order, they are also outright lazy. What else, can explain the recent report, which appeared almost verbatim in all major newspapers, claiming that Yogi Adityanath has banned chewing of “paan” (betel leaf) and “paan masala”, widely known as “gutkha”, in all government buildings?

Going by these headlines, there is no doubt that the report is a press release handed down to them by the UP govt. But as news organisation, doesn’t it behooves them, to at least fact check, what’s been given out to them?

If gutkha was already banned in Uttar Pradesh, isn’t it misleading to report that Adityanath has banned gutkha and pan masala in govt offices, without informing the readers, about the existing law?

Perhaps, Adityanath is only enforcing the law, that was not implemented before. But shouldn’t news organisations, point it out clearly that, he is only enforcing an already existing ban? Shouldn’t news organisations, also point out that gutkha and pan masala is banned in other states too?

Or is sycophancy driving Indian media, to copy + paste, anything and everything that is been told to them, without questioning it?

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Hello. We’re The Cognate. We are a digital news platform for Indian Muslim news, ideas, and culture. Our content includes news, ground reportage, interviews, and short explanatory videos. We report and write on a wide range of issues and events, concerning the Muslim community in India.

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